Lesson 28 – Your Testimony Part 1: Before Christ
Unit 3: Compartiendo la Fe | Unit Overview | Course Home
Review Flash
(5 minutes — say the Spanish before looking)
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| John 3:16 | Juan tres, dieciséis |
| the verse says | el versículo dice |
| according to the Bible | según la Biblia |
| you can be saved | puedes ser salvo/a |
| Psalms | Salmos |
Lesson Goals
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Introduce your personal testimony in Spanish
- Describe your life before Christ with relevant vocabulary
- Use the imperfect and preterite tenses in a testimony context
- Practice Part 1 of your testimony until it flows naturally
The Three-Part Testimony
A personal testimony is the most powerful evangelism tool you carry — because no one can argue with your experience. The classic three-part structure is:
- Before Christ — Who I was, what my life was like
- Coming to faith — How I heard the gospel and responded
- Life in Christ — How things changed, who I am now
This lesson covers Part 1. Keep each part brief — the goal is a complete testimony you can share in 2–3 minutes in Spanish.
New Vocabulary: “Before” Language
| Spanish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| antes de | AHN-tes deh | before |
| cuando era joven | when I was young | |
| en ese tiempo | at that time | |
| en aquel entonces | back then | |
| yo buscaba | yoh boos-KAH-bah | I was looking for / I used to look for |
| yo sentía | yoh sehn-TEE-ah | I felt / I used to feel |
| yo creía | yoh kreh-EE-ah | I believed / I used to believe |
| yo vivía | yoh vee-VEE-ah | I lived / I used to live |
| sin dirección | without direction | |
| sin propósito | without purpose | |
| vacío/a | vah-SEE-oh / -ah | empty |
| perdido/a | pehr-DEE-doh / -dah | lost |
| solo/a | SOH-loh / -lah | alone |
| confundido/a | kohn-foon-DEE-doh / -dah | confused |
| luchando | struggling | |
| intentando llenar | trying to fill (a void) | |
| el vacío | the emptiness / the void |
Grammar Focus: The Imperfect Tense for Background Descriptions
In Spanish, when you describe what things used to be like or provide background/ongoing past states, you use the imperfect tense (not the preterite).
Regular -AR verbs: drop -ar, add: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -aban
- buscar → buscaba (I used to look for / I was looking for)
- trabajar → trabajaba (I used to work)
- vivir → vivía (I used to live) (-IR/-ER verbs: -ía endings)
High-frequency imperfect forms for testimony:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo era… | I was… |
| Yo tenía… | I had / I used to have… |
| Yo vivía… | I lived / I used to live… |
| Yo sentía… | I felt… |
| Yo buscaba… | I was looking for… |
| Yo pensaba que… | I used to think that… |
| No había paz. | There was no peace. |
| Me faltaba algo. | Something was missing. |
Sample Testimony Part 1 (Adapt to Your Own Life)
Read this example, then write and practice your own version.
“Antes de conocer a Cristo, yo era una persona que vivía para mí mismo. Tenía una buena familia y una vida cómoda, pero sentía que me faltaba algo. Por dentro, había un vacío que no podía llenar con nada — ni con el éxito, ni con las relaciones, ni con el trabajo.
Buscaba sentido y propósito, pero no sabía dónde encontrarlos. Me sentía solo, aunque estaba rodeado de personas. Vivía sin dirección real, sin saber para qué existía.”
(Before knowing Christ, I was a person who lived for myself. I had a good family and a comfortable life, but I felt that something was missing. Inside, there was a void that I couldn’t fill with anything — not with success, not with relationships, not with work. I was looking for meaning and purpose, but I didn’t know where to find them. I felt alone, even though I was surrounded by people. I lived without real direction, not knowing what I existed for.)
Your testimony will be different
Maybe you grew up in church but were never truly committed. Maybe you had serious struggles with addiction, family pain, or doubt. Maybe your “before” story is quiet — not dramatic — but still real. All testimonies are valid. Adapt the vocabulary and sentences below to fit your actual story.
Vocabulary for different “before” stories:
| If you were… | Spanish phrase |
|---|---|
| Searching spiritually | Buscaba la verdad. |
| Religious but not in relationship with God | Era religioso pero no conocía a Dios personalmente. |
| Dealing with addiction | Luchaba con las adicciones. |
| Filled with anger | Tenía mucha ira y amargura. |
| Living without moral anchor | Vivía sin valores. |
| Afraid and anxious | Vivía con mucho miedo. |
| Prosperous but empty | Lo tenía todo materialmente, pero me sentía vacío. |
¡Practícalo! (Speaking Practice)
Write your own Part 1 testimony in Spanish. Use 4–6 sentences. Keep it honest and personal. Then practice saying it out loud until you can do it without reading.
Structure:
- Set the scene: Antes de conocer a Cristo…
- Describe your situation: Yo era… / Yo sentía… / Yo buscaba…
- Name the gap: Me faltaba… / Había un vacío… / No tenía…
Time yourself — Part 1 should take about 45–60 seconds when spoken aloud.
Cultural Note
Testimonies in Latin American churches: Personal testimonies are cherished and regularly shared in Latin American evangelical worship. “Dar el testimonio” (giving the testimony) is a spiritual act, not just a speech. Local believers will often respond verbally — “¡Amén!” or “¡Gloria a Dios!” — as you speak. Don’t let this interrupt your rhythm; it’s encouragement. Sharing even a simple testimony in Spanish, however imperfect, will be received with deep appreciation.
Oración
“Venid y oíd todos los que teméis a Dios, y contaré lo que ha hecho a mi alma.” (Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.) — Salmos 66:16
Your testimony is a psalm. Cuéntalo. (Tell it.)
← Lesson 27 | Next Lesson → Lesson 29: Your Testimony Part 2